Automatic filtering press



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 July l, 1941. F. s. CARVER AUTOMATIC FILTERING PRESS Filed April 27, 193,7

ATTORNEYS July l, 1941. F. s. CARVER AUTOMATIC FILTERING PRESS Filed April 27, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 l 5 R ow .Wm Tw, N N R We@ m m .m 5

@7h @ad July l, 1941- F. s. CARVER 2,247,988

AUTOMATIC FILTERING PREss Filed April 27, 1957 3 sheets-sheet 3 Tim.

lNVENTOR Fr-ed S. Carver 9%/ dal ATTORNEYS Patented July. l, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE fmmfi Applicatiolli (lliosglo. 139,215

My invention relates to an automatic ltering press for separating materials containing solids and liquids into such respective components.

It is an object of the invention to provide a,

press in which pots lare eliminated and also the sliding vthereof in and out as in previous types, and to substitute a single set of container rings for such pots,v which container rings can be iilled through an opening or openings in the side walls'thereof while remaining vwithin the press, thereby providing a self-contained press which is simple, fast and automatic in itsl operation. A

Another object is to provide-for the iilling of the container rings through the side walls thereof at points symmetrically located and to thereby form a cake of-balanced density.

A further object is to provide lling check valves which can be momentarily locked open so that the inlet passages can be blown out and cleaned.

In the embodiment selected for illustration, the

arrangement is as a so-called vertical press and but with the ram up and the press closed against' the pressed cakes consisting of the solid constituents of the material treated;

Fig. 4 is a view and section similar to Figs. 2

and 3, with the ram back in original down position and the container rings retracted, and showing the stripped cakes exposed ready to be removed;

Fig. 5 is a partial section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a partial section of one of the container rings on the line 6--6 of Fig. 5. I

The press frame as shown comprises the bas 2 containing hydraulic ram cylinder 4, columns 6, 6, preferably one at each of the four corners, and pressure head 8.

Between pressure head 8 and the hydraulic ram are interposed platens I0, I0, of which four are shown. Platens i0, I0 are guided to travel axially by the columns I, 6. For each platen I8 there is a corresponding container ring I2, four thereof^ being shown in the drawings, but the number of rings and platens can be varied as desired. l

The container ring I2 for each platen Il telescopes about an upwardly extending plunger portion I4 of its platen. Onthe upper -face of the plunger portion I4 of each platen III is a lter plate I6 which'iorms the oor wall of the chamber I2 in the corresponding ring I2. There is also a filter plate I8 on the underside of each of the platens I0, except the bottom one, and such iilter plate I8 is adapted to form the ceiling wall of the chamberl I2' in the next lower ring I2 when the press is closed. Narrow grooves I9 are provided in platens I8 behind illter plates I8 for lateral exit of fluid 4expressed through filter plates I8, and similar outlet means `may be provided for lateral exit of iluid expressedy through filter plates I6.

For each container ring I2 there is a set of preferably four springs 28. Springs 28 are interposed between projecting lugs 22 on the container rings I2 and corresponding projecting lugs 24 on the platens I0.

A series of steps 26 is provided at each' 4side of the press. Each series consists of pairs of steps spaced successively farther-apart toward the top of the press. Cross bars 21 are iltted on top of the two topmost setsl ofsteps. In the embodiment shown, there are four platens. When the hydraulic ram piston 25 is retracted, the bottom-most platen rests directly upon the ram piston 25, the platen next above rests on its corresponding set of steps 26, and the two 'topmost platens rest upon the two pairs of cross bars 21. Thus fixed supports are provided for all of the platens when the r'am pistonV is retracted, While the platens are allowed to move'f upwardly when the ram piston is extended. Morecontainer rings I2, and the lower ends of rods 30 may engage a seat in the lowermost ringl I2I desired, the arrangement and step-spacing being such that the container rings I2 may be actuated by rods I2 to move down against springs 20 when the ram 25 is retracted (Figs. 2 and 4).

Filling means are provided for supplying the material to be pressed to chambers I2' in lthe i rings I2, the yinlets for this purpose extending through :the side wallof each of rings I2, as for example, the rear wall, as seen in Fig. 2.

' step supports 2l, 2l, and the springs 20, 2l are This preferably semi-fluid material is delivered s under pressure preferably by pumping through` inlet valve 4I to inlet pipe 42 to which is connected a vertical pipe M, this part of theypiping being stationary on the press. Swiveled to maniy fold pipe 44 and to rings Il respectively are walk- 1 ing pipes 4I. It, with swivel Joints I2 between them. said walking pipes 4l leading from supply i. pipe 44 to inlets Il "into the chambers I2 in the container rings I2. Feedcheck valves Il are provided. foreach of the inlets 40. Each feed check valve has a spring l2 tending to hold it closed, and stem 5I of valve l is provided with a handle It having a skirtil providing bayonet-Joint-like means for temporarily locking the valve I0 in open position 1 to permit blowing through `the check'valve 50 to clean it out, the open position so provided being indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6.

Feed pipe-42 is preferably provided with a relief valve Jeferred to below.

'I'he platens I0 are preferably hollow and pro- 1 3 vided with walking pipes ill, 60 for supplying steam-for heating the platens and the material being pressed.

The material to be pressed, such as ground i cocoa beans, known as cocoa liquor, fory one of 1 many instances, is fed to the press in pumpable condition, being pumped or forcedfrom a supply 3 source through the inlet control valve 4I which i is opened for this purpose, and through pipes 42, 1 u and 4I and inlet passages 40, past the check ;valves 5l, whichV have been released to bear against their seats by means of handles 58, into the chambers I2' within the container rings I2.

Thus chambers I2 are illled with the semi-liquid material, any air previously inV them having escaped through the filter platesi, I8.- Relief valve Il serves to limit the pressure that can be applied to the supply line to thereby avoid excessive filling pressures and limit the extent to which illterin'g by pumping can take place before ipressing. Relief valve may be dispensed with, however, and effective pressure filter pressing performed by pumping prior to mechanical pressing by means of the hydraulic ram.

The apparatus is shown in Fig. 2 with the Y chambers I 2' in the container rings I2 filled as has Just been described. After the chambers I2 compressed. Also the ejector plungers are Vpushed up in their cylinders 22 by elevation of lowermost ringv I2.

When the pressing' is complete, the ram 25 is retracted and the container rings I2, .with their respective platens I0, follow the receding ram back under the influence of expanding springs 20 together with the weight of the several parts, the

platens finally coming to rest at their initial station positions 'supported upon vtheir respective step-supports 26, 28. This leaves the cakes 68 in the upper portions of the container rings I0 with some open space below the cakes. The cakes are now ready to be stripped for removal.

Hydraulic pressure is now admittedto the upper ends of the cylinders 28 to force the plungers 30 and connected push rods 32 downwardly.

The container rings I2 are thereby telescoped downwardly over the "platenplungers Il of platens I0, which are held except for the lowermost platen which is obviously seen in-the drawings to be held up by the ram, from moving downwardly by their respective step-supports 26, and the cakes 68 are stripped clean, being left standing exposed on the plungers I4 of platens .I0 with the respective sets of springs 2li separately compressed (see Fig. 4). The cakes Il, which have been stripped by the descent of the container rings, are now` free to be removed. When the press is of the vertical type, the cakes 88 are removed by simply pushing them oi by hand or with any suitable implement. Shelves I0l are provided on the cake exit side. These shelves 'III protect and cover the walking pipes 46, check valve handles 56, etc., and the cakes can be slid oi over shelves I0 into any receptacle or conveyor (not shown) for receiving them.

As rings I2 are telescoped over plungers I4 by rods 32 to strip the cakes, any plugs of cake material extending into that part of the inlet pasare filled, `and any desired further pressure ltering has been performed atthis stage, valve 4I is closed, though this is not always necessary because of the provision of check valves 50, and `hydraulic pressureis admitted to the cylinder l lat its inlet I2. 25 advancing slowly by hydraulic pressure elevates and foreshortens the telescoping arrangement of platen, plungers and container rings, thereby reducing' the height of pressure chambers I2' as the liquid is expressed through illter plates II and Il, the parts coming sages 40 between the chamber I2' and the check valves 50, which check valves SII are set back into the inlet passages Ill, are automatically sheared on' byl plunger Il, leaving the periphery of the cake clean and free from 'any extending plug at the chamber inlet 40.

When the cakes have been removed, the hydraulic pressure is taken oil the stripper cylinders 28. This permits the container rings I2 to be restored to original elevated position with respect to platens I0 by vthe action of the expanding springs 20 (see Fig. 2). The press is now ready to be supplied with a new charge, and the cycle of operation repeated, the check valve 50 being pref- 'ing is started, in the dotted open position shownl `ilnally to the position shown in Fig. 3, with onlyv A cakesof the ,solidsV remaining in chambers I2. The liquid portion of'the material, expressed erably initially locked momentarily, when pumpin Fig. 6 to provide for blowing the inlet passage free of any residue. l

It is to be understood that the apparatus shown vis for illustration only and not for limitation of vmy invention which is of the breadth deilned in my claim. v

I claim:

A press comprising a coaxial series of platens, a lter plate mounted on one face of each platen, and on the other face a plunger, a filter plate mounted on its face', container rings between the several platens and coaxial therewith, said'container rings telescoping over the said plungers and forming press chambers within the said rings and between the said lter plates, means normally tending to force said rings outwardly along said plungers to expanded relation, stop means preventing said rings from being taken past telesoping relationship with said plungers, means for telescoping said rings over said plungers, means for forcing said platens toward each other to diminish'the said press chambers and 10 chambers being provided in the common manifold portion of the feed line and individual valve control means being -provided for individually forcing open the several check valves to avoid the clogging of any of them.

" i FRED s.'CARvER. 

